Former Victim Leads Push To End Domestic Abuse

May 07, 1997|By T. Shawn Taylor, Tribune Staff Writer.

Karla Osantowski cannot quite remember how old she was when her first husband started beating her. Maybe 17 or 18, she said. She does, however, recall her 2-year-old daughter was nestling in a crib the day the seven-year nightmare began.

Since making a career in law enforcement, Osantowski, the Chicago Heights police superintendent, has not forgotten those images. A former Cook County prosecutor, when she was appointed Chicago Heights chief in 1994, she immediately began implementing changes in domestic-violence policing. She said she researches local abuse cases.

More changes are in the offing. On Tuesday, Osantowski, 40, announced the city has been awarded a $478,213 federal grant under the Violence Against Women Act. The grant will pay for staffing of a domestic violence unit to step up prevention and prosecution and support counseling for children, who Osantowski called "the silent victims."

"I put my heart and soul into this one," Osantowski said of the grant search. "Being a woman in charge of this project with my history, you've got to say that I'm not going to sleep unless it's done right."

Starting in July, Osantowski will have help from a police supervisor and four domestic-violence detectives, a full-time staff administrator and a full-time court advocate.

Police Chief Gerry Billups has selected two of the four detectives for the unit from experienced officers. Billups has yet to select the supervisor.

"This is not a job for rookies," Osantowski said. "We're trying to get the most professional people involved in the unit."

Billups said the applicants, all patrol officers, are being judged on their investigative experience and past police reports to measure their ability to gather information.

Each detective will receive 40 hours of training through the South Suburban Family Shelter, counsels children and abusers. In addition, Osantowski will lead a three-day training session for the detectives.

The shelter will select a court advocate from its staff, Osantowski said. That person will work with police and counsel the victims during the investigation and court proceedings.

Osantowski said the city is looking to hire a civilian working within the police department as its administrator. "We want someone who's worked with the police and knows the jargon and is familiar with the scenarios."

The administrator will help track down prior arrests and convictions against offenders that may be useful in court, Osantowski said. That person will also remind police and victims of court dates and make sure police follow up to photograph victims a day or two after an incident, the time it takes for bruises to appear.

"This is the only crime where we've let the offender take control," Osantowski said, adding that for too long domestic violence was considered a personal matter. "It's no greater crime, it's no lesser crime (than any other). But it's a crime."